Bagram hosts Afghan media day

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The Regional Command- East Media Support Center hosted a media day with Afghan reporters and Afghan National Army leaders at Bagram Airfield, Mar. 2.
   
The monthly event is designed to inform and involve local media in Coalition Force and ANA events throughout Afghanistan.

“We’ve realized that since we are in their country that the best way to communicate to the Afghan people is through the Afghan Media,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Clarence Counts, Combined Joint Task Force 82 public affairs officer.

U.S. and ANA leaders addressed and answered questions from Afghan reporters pertaining to current and future operations and training events.

“We want to partner with the Afghan media, and we want the Afghan media to cover the Afghan Army to tell the Afghan story to the Afghan people,” said U.S. Army Maj. Perry Jarmon, the RC-E MSC and 300th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment commander.

Many reporters showed interest and genuine excitement when talking about future missions, said Jarmon.
   
“It’s good to work with the Coalition Forces because they take us to some provinces that we would not normally go to because of security. It’s a great opportunity working with them,” said Shriinizoi Rahim, an Afghan reporter.

The RC-E MSC hopes to build off this event and attract more media for future events.

“We are hoping to expand this so we won’t have to invite people to come, they just hear media day and show up,” said Jarmon. “We want it to become that popular and that beneficial to the people of Afghanistan.”